In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raid Deir Dibwan, throwing stones and glass bottles at Palestinians and vehicles, injuring 15 people, including 5 children. Israeli settlers also raid Arab al-Milehat, damaging a prayer hall. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers bring their livestock to graze on agricultural land in Fateh Sidra in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli settlers also throw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Huwwara. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers set up a settlement outpost near Bani Na’im. Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian man at the Deir Sharaf checkpoint. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Rafah, Gaza City, and Dayr al-Balah, killing at least 10 people, including 9 people waiting to receive an aid shipment in Rafah. Israeli forces also set fire to the Rafah crossing’s departure hall, destroying it. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb a car in Chehabiyeh, killing a Hezbollah member. Israeli forces also bomb Ayta ash Shab. In Yemen, U.S. forces bomb 4 radar installations, an uncrewed vessel, and a drone. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/17; UNOCHA 6/19)
More than 37,347 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 15,694 children and 10,000 women, and around 85,372 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 541 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 129 children. More than 5,200 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 312 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,940 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 79,000 housing units have been destroyed and 370,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023. (AJ, HA, WAFA 6/17)
The UN Famine Review Committee says it does not have enough reliable information to declare a famine in northern Gaza. The committee emphasizes that despite the lack of information it does not “in any manner change the fact that extreme human suffering is without a doubt currently ongoing in the Gaza Strip and does not in any manner change the immediate humanitarian imperative to address this civilian suffering.” (HA, HA 6/17)
UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini says there has been no pause in Israeli attacks near Rafah despite the Israeli military’s announcement on 6/16 that it would halt attacks for 11 hours a day in southeastern Gaza to allow aid to enter through the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. (AJ, AP, REU 6/17; AP 6/18; AP 6/21)
The Gaza Media Office accuses Israel and the U.S. of worsening the famine-like conditions in Gaza by withholding humanitarian aid to apply political pressure on Hamas. The office also says Palestinian journalist Mahmoud Qassam has been killed by Israel without providing a date or location, bringing the number of journalists in Gaza killed since 10/7/2023 to 151. (AJ 6/17)
PA prime minister Mohammad Mustafa discusses the situation in the West Bank and Gaza with Portuguese foreign minister Paulo Rangel in a phone call, also calling on Portugal to recognize the State of Palestine. (WAFA 6/17)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolves the war cabinet. (AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, NYT, REU 6/17; AP 6/18)
The Israeli security cabinet convenes to discuss imposing sanctions on the PA, including to “bolster settlements,” due to its activities at the UN and international courts. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says the proposal includes 4 new settlements. Other reports from the meeting says the cabinet discussed downgrading relations with countries that have recognized the State of Palestine, canceling all PA VIP travel permits, sanctioning PA officials and their families. (HA 6/18)
Jewish Power MK Limor Son Har-Melech and Religious Zionism MK Zvi Sukkot announce that they are launching a lobbying effort to return Israeli settlements to Gaza. (HA 6/17)
U.S. deputy assistant to the president and senior adviser for energy and investment Amos Hochstein meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and President Issac Herzog, discussing attacks along the Blue Line. The U.S. is reportedly worried that the attacks could lead to all-out war. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, discussing the situation in Gaza and Yemen. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT 6/17; AJ 6/18)
Norwegian foreign minister Espen Barth Eide warns that the PA could collapse in the coming months due to a lack of funding, violence in the West Bank, and Palestinians being banned from working in Israel. Norway also says it will increase its financial support for UNRWA in 2024 by $9 million. (AJ, HA, REU 6/17)
The Washington Post reports that House Committee on Foreign Affairs ranking member Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair Ben Cardin (D-MD) have agreed to approve a major arms sale to Israel worth more than $18 billion after months of pressure from the Biden administration. (HA, WP 6/17; AJ, AP, NYT, REU 6/18)
The Israeli Defense Ministry says that military exports for 2023 set an all-time record with more than $13 billion in military equipment sold to foreign countries. 48% was exported to Asia and 35% to Europe. (AP, HA, REU 6/17)
The Israeli public broadcaster Kan reports on a document which show that Israeli military intelligence was aware on 9/19/2023 that Hamas was planning to attack Israel and take between 200-250 captives. The document also says that Hamas militants trained to target Israeli military bases along Gaza. (HA 6/18)
New Zealand donates $5 million to the World Food Programme and UNICEF earmarked for Gaza. (WAFA 6/17)